Artificial limb.



No. 875,482. PATENTED DEG. 31,1901 W. G. WYATT. ARTIFICIAL LIME.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1907.

III]

gnuzutoz @M7? W 5m -6. wow,

bT Rs co., wasumanm, :4 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

WILLIAM G. WYATT, OF BOREING, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES H. WYATT,

OF BOREING, KENTUCKY.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1907-.

Application. filed March 29, 1907. gerial No. 365.383.

citizen of the United States, residing at Boreing, in the county of Laurel and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Artificial Limbs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an artificial limb of that type in which the limb is adapted to be strapped to the stub of the leg of the user both at the lower extremity and at the thigh.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction of devices of this character so as to be comparatively easy and inexpensive to construct, readily adjusted for adaptation to persons of different size, and thoroughly reliable and efficient in use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an artificial limb in which the straps for securing the body of the limb to the leg of the user may be vertically adjusted to accommodate the parts of the artificial limb to the leg, one of the straps being associated with a pad that is adjustable therewith.

With these objects in view and others, as will appear as the descriptionproceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one of the embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a front view of the artificial limb shown removed. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the slide for the thigh strap. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 1-4, Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section on line 5-5, Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the body of the limb that is preferably constructed of light, strong wood or other material and shaped in the form of a crotch composed of spring members 2 and 3 that are united at their lower ends and fitted with a ferrule 4 for preventing the lower end of the limb from wearing. The limb 3 is prolonged into a straight extension 5 that is adapted to run I along the outside of the leg to the region of the thigh, while the member 2 terminates at a point that will extend somewhat above the i knee or lower end of the dismembered leg. The extremity of the member 2 is provided with a longitudinal slot 6 that is disposed opable on each of the limbs is a sheet metal frame or slide 8 secured. in adjusted position by bolts 9 that pass through the slide and slot of the limb. On each slide is pivoted, by means of one of the bolts 9, a looped metal strip 10 having a ring 11, and in the adapted to encircle the stub leg adjacent the lower end. The slides 8 support the ends of va flexible U-shaped member 13 of leather or other suitable material that is covered with a thick padding 14 for receiving the extremity of the stub leg.

The upper portion of the extension 5 is provided with a longitudinal slot 15, and movable along the slotted portion is a slide 16 adjustably secured in position by bolts 17, and on the slide is a keeper 13 for receiving the thigh strap 19. The keeper 18 is pivoted on one of the bolts 17 and has a plurality of spaced bars 18 through which the strap 19 can be freely moved longitudinally. In order to adjust the relative position of the members 2 and 3, a threaded rod 20 passes through the members adjacent their middle portion and by means of nuts 21., the mem bers can be drawn together or allowed to spread apart.

In practice, the artificial limb is adjusted to the leg of the wearer by first adjusting the nuts 21 to permit the stub leg to be inserted snugly between the upper extremity of the member 2 and the opposite portion of the member 3. The pad 14 is then adjusted vertically so that the extremity of the stub leg will bear comfortably therein and the strap 11 is fastened around the leg. The limb is then secured to the thigh by adjusting the slide 16 to the proper position and buckling the strap 19 around the thigh. By properly adjusting the limb, the user can walk with great comfort and the artificial leg will be of the. same length as the other one.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of-the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the inposite a slot 7 in the member 3, and slidrings of both slides is'a strap 11 that is' vention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative and thatsuch changes may be made when desired, as are within the sco e of the claims.

Having thus described the lnvention, what I claim is:

1. In an artificial limb, the combination of a crotched body, adjustable flexible members thereon for securing the limb to the leg of the user, and a pad vertically adjustable with one of the members.

2. In an artificial limb, the combination of a body provided. with an extension, adjustable slides on the body, a thigh strap at tached to one of the slides, a second strap attached to the remaining slides, and a pad secured to the last-mentioned slides.

3. In an artificial limb, the combination of a crotched body comprising a pair of mem bers one of which is prolonged to form a thigh extension, a pair of adjustable slides on the members, fastenings for securing the slides in adjusted position, a padding secured to the slides to move therewith, a fastening strap loosely attached to the slides, and means for attaching the said extension to the thigh of the user.

4. In an artificial limb, the combination of a crotched body, means for moving the members of the body toward or away from each other, the members being provided with longitudinal slots, slides on the members, bolts passing through the slides and slots for securing the former in adjusted position, a padding attached to and movable with a pair of slides, a strap movable with the said pair of slides, and a second strap attached to another slide.

5. In an artificial limb, the combination of a crotched body having one of its members extended upwardly and the members having oppositely disposed longitudinal slots, the extension having a longitudinal slot, slides movable on the members at the slotted portions, keepers or guards secured to the slides, bolts passing through the slides and slots for holding the former in adjusted position, straps passing through the keepers, a padding secured to the slides at the oppositely disposed slots, and means for adjusting the relative position of the members.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM G. IVYATT.

Witnesses E. H. JoI-INsoN, JAMES SPARKS. 

